why did the egyptians embalm bodies

They embalmed bodies so that the bodies could go to the Afterlife.

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002776/mummyinfo.htm

The Egyptians embalmed bodies as part of their elaborate funeral practices and religious beliefs. They believed in an afterlife and wanted to preserve the bodies of their deceased loved ones so they could continue their existence in the next world. Embalming, or the process of preserving and mummifying the body, was believed to be essential for ensuring the individual's successful transition to the afterlife.

To understand how the Egyptians embalmed bodies, we can look at their detailed embalming process, which involved several steps:

1. Washing the body: The first step was to cleanse the body by washing it with water from the Nile River, removing any impurities or dirt.

2. Removal of internal organs: The embalmers made incisions in the left side of the body and carefully removed the internal organs through this opening. The brain was also removed using specialized hooks inserted through the nostrils.

3. Drying the body: The body was then packed with natron, a naturally occurring salt that helped in the drying process. Natron absorbed the moisture from the body, preserving it and preventing decomposition.

4. 40-day drying period: The body was left to dry for about 40 days. During this time, the embalmers would frequently check on the body and replace the natron if necessary.

5. Wrapping the body: Once the drying period was complete, the body was cleaned again, and the cavities left by the removal of organs were filled with various substances, such as sawdust or linen. The body was then tightly wrapped in linen bandages, sometimes accompanied by protective amulets and charms.

6. Final presentation: The wrapped mummy was placed in a wooden or stone coffin, often shaped like a human form, and sometimes adorned with intricate decorations and hieroglyphs. The coffin was then placed in a tomb or burial chamber.

This elaborate process of embalming ensured that the bodies of the deceased could be preserved for eternity in the belief that they would be united with their spirits in the afterlife.